Wagon-brake.



No. 651,!27. Patented June 5, !900. C. WEBER.

WAGON BRAKE.

lApplicution filed Jan. 30, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES WEBER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI- WAGON-BRAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 651,127, dated June 5, 1900. Application filed January 30, 1900. Serial No- 31268. (No model.)

T0 on whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES WEBER, of the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in'Wagon-Brakes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

This invention relates to wagon-brakes; and it consists of the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter shown, described, and claimed.

Figure 1 shows my improved brake secured to a wagon. Fig. 2 is an enlarged View in perspective.

In the construction of this invention I provide a suitable ratchet-segment 1, integral with which is a projection 2, which is adapted to fit against the wagon-bed and to be held there by any suitable means, as by a bolt 3. The other end of the segment is retained a suitable distance from the bed by any wellknown means, such as by use of washers, and is held in place by a bolt 4. A horizontal metallic strip 5 is secured to the segment by means of the bolt 4 and another bolt 6 and is bent so as to fall within the same vertical plane.

Pivotally secured to the strip 5 is the bifurcated lever 7, one fork of which passes on each side of the said strip and between the lower ends of which ispivotally secured the forward end of the brake-rod 8, the same being at all times in an approximately-horizontal position and which is joined at its rear end to the brake-beam 9.

Pivot-ally secured between the forks of the lever 7 is a pawl 10, which engages with the ratchet-teeth 11 and integral with which is an arm 12. Connected in any suitable manner to the outer end of the said arm is the lower end of a latch-rod 13, the upper end of which is connected to the bell-crank 14, the same being pivoted to the upper extremity of the lever 7.

A brake constructed in accordance with the above principles presents many advan* tages over all others. The bifurcated lever 7 is of such length as that the rod 8 at all times occupies approximately a horizontal position. By such an arrangement when the brake is operated the brake-beam 9 will encounter less resistance by frictional contact with the bottom of the bed than it would were the forward end of the rod at such a height as to draw the beam upwardly and forwardly, as is the usual construction. Another strik ing advantage which it presents over the or dinary construction lies in the fact that the upper end of the operating-lever is drawn rearwardly instead of being pushed forwardly when the brake is operated. This arrangement I have found of greater practical con venience than the construction in which it is necessary to push the brake forwardly.

The device is simple, easily and conven iently operated, and the cost of its construction is no greater than fora brake of the ordinary construction.

I claim--- A brake comprising a segment having rearwardly-projecting ratchet-teeth on its upper edge, a projection integral with one end of said segment for securing the same to a vehicle-bed, a horizontal fulcrum-strip detachably carried by said segment, a bifurcated hand-lever pivoted to said fulcrum-strip, an integral portion of said lever projecting below said fulcrum-strip, a brake-rod pivotally secured between said projecting members, a pawl carried between the forks of said lever and operating upon the ratchet-teeth of the segment, a rod connected to said pawl, and a bell-crank for operating said rod, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

oHARLEs WEBER.

Witnesses:

E. J HERMAN, J. D. RIPPEY. 

